Phillipsburg man charged in accident with police car in Somerset County

View full sizeThe South Brunswick Township, N.J., police officer driving this cruiser early this morning was injured when an allegedly drunken driver, 24-year-old Joseph Mendes, of Phillipsburg, crashed into him in Franklin Township, Somerset County.Photo Courtesy South Brunswick Township, N.J., police

A Phillipsburg man faces numerous charges after allegedly driving drunk and crashing into a police cruiser on a major highway in Somerset County then trying to flee.

The crash occurred about 12:05 a.m. this morning on Route 27 in Franklin Township, not far from the South Brunswick Township, N.J., border.

Authorities say a northbound car driven by 24-year-old Joseph Mendes rear-ended the cruiser driven by South Brunswick Patrolman Angelo Zecca. The impact sent the cruiser across the southbound lanes and into a traffic light pole.

Mendes allegedly tried to walk away, but Zecca was able to get out of his vehicle and capture Mendes. Police say officers later recovered a small amount of marijuana where Mendes was caught. A report on nj.com indicates Mendes was bleeding as he allegedly tried to flee.

Zecca and Mendes were treated for minor injuries and later released.

View full sizeJoseph Mendes, 24, of Phillipsburg, was allegedly drunk when he crashed this Saturn into a South Brunswick Township, N.J., police cruiser early this morning in neighboring Franklin Township, Somerset County.Photo Courtesy South Brunswick Township, N.J., police

"Officer Zecca was saved from serious injuries because he was wearing his seat belt and the airbags in the patrol car deployed," South Brunswick police Chief Raymond Hayducka said in a statement on the department's nixle.com page. "The suspect was traveling at a high rate of speed and intoxicated. We are thankful the officer and no one in the general public was seriously injured or killed by this driver."

Police charged Mendes with assault by auto, drunken driving, possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a vehicle, possession of an open alcoholic beverage in a vehicle, reckless driving and additional motor vehicle offenses.

He posted $250 bail and was released. Online records show he lives in the 400 block of Lyndale Street in Phillipsburg. Calls to numbers listed for that address failed to immediately reach him for comment.